Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
Published on: September 28, 2018
Identifying existential concerns as an analytical tool: an eye-opener for the doctor
Jan-Helge Larsen1, Helle Therese Kirkegaard2, Gunnar Nordgren3
1General Practice, Research Unit for General Practice and Section of General Practice, University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract:
Existential concerns manifest themselves emotionally in patients. Emotions tend to be transferred between patient and doctor but the underlying existential concerns may remain hidden and obscure for both. If doctors understand that there are always existential concerns behind patients' inquiries it becomes easier to relate to the patient's feelings in an interested and curious way. Ultimately this benefits both doctors and patients. We have observed five existential human concerns leads to strong emotions (1. death, 2. thrown-ness, 3. aloneness, 4. choosing (the imperative of choice) and 5. meaninglessness (the absence of objective meaning).
Related Concept Videos
Ethical Dilemmas II
Ethical Issues
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Patient-centered Care
Introspection
Ethics and Bioethics
Humanistic Therapy

